Institute of Physics Awards Ceremony 2010

Inspiring speeches about the need to protect science from savage spending cuts were made at this year’s Institute of Physics’ (IOP) Awards Dinner by Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell and Lord Willis of Knaresborough.

The awards ceremony, speeches and dinner, which took place on 30 September, at the Landmark Hotel, London, were enjoyed by four hundred guests who had gathered to celebrate outstanding achievements in physics research, education, innovation and outreach.  

Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell, immediate Past-President of IOP, addressed guests to highlight her concerns about whether the Government will have the courage to maintain investment in science when there are huge pressures to make radical cuts in almost every area of public expenditure. 

Her address concluded with three pertinent messages.

She said: “Firstly – be passionate about the case we are making.  It is about a vision for the future of our country, not just a special interest argument for science.

“Secondly – never give up.  Even if the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review is what we fear, rather than what we hope, keep speaking out on the case for science.  There will be other years, and other opportunities

“Thirdly – and perhaps the most important of all – stick together.  There will be pressure to belittle other people’s work to fund your own.  Resist it.  We will make a much stronger public case for science and engineering by speaking with one voice and highlighting the overall benefits.”

Guest speaker Lord Willis of Knaresborough, previously chairman of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, followed Jocelyn to the stage.

Reiterating concerns about Government spend on science, he said, “There is not a single global challenge from environment to energy – from food shortages to pandemics – where physics is not central to a solution.

“Yet here we are on the cusp of a downturn in research activity because of the blindness of a political class dominated by accountants anxious to balance the books in the short term.

“Friends – just as we were right to save our banking sector by investment – so we must preserve our science base by investment.”

Award winners included physics teachers from the UK, Ireland and the USA, as well as outstanding researchers from many of the UK’s leading universities.

Professor Brian Cox (pictured)  received the Kelvin award for public engagement, and Gold Medals went to Professor Sir Michael Pepper, Professor James Binney, Professor Dame Athene Donald and Professor Peter Roberts. 

IOP also welcomed five new Honorary Fellows: Sir John Enderby, Professor Peter Kalmus, Sir Peter Ogden, Professor Lisa Randall and Professor Freeman Dyson